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The next morning.
Inside the conference room at Indigo Plateau.
Charles Goodshow sat at the head of the table, the Kanto Elite Four sat beside him, and Jenny Lio stood in front of the projection screen.
Lance, with his blood-red hair and cold, arrogant face, stood with his arms crossed; Lorelei, with her left leg crossed over her right, also had her arms crossed and an indifferent expression.
Agatha was still flipping through an ancient book, while Bruno rested his chin on his hand, looking bored.
"Everyone's here, Lio, you can start."
Charles Goodshow said to Jenny Lio.
"Yes, according to the report from the Sinnoh League yesterday, they have concluded through discussion that they recognize the legitimacy of Team Rockets' affiliated companies in the Sinnoh region."
Jenny Lio's expression was solemn, and her tone was quite heavy.
"As a result, a total of four regions have passed the legalization of Team Rockets' enterprises."
"Four?" Lorelei frowned.
"Yes, the Hoenn region, the Sinnoh region, the Unova region, and the Alola region, which was the first."
"The Alola region is where Team Rockets' branch has developed the best; the Alola League there was newly established and couldn't effectively counter Team Rockets."
"It is said that the Alpaca Entertainment City founded by Team Rockets has already become the signature entertainment venue on Melemele Island."
Jenny Lio said in a deep voice.
"Heh~ That Mammon, he really has some capabilities."
Lorelei sneered, noncommittal.
"So what is this meeting about today? To go to war with Team Rockets?"
Agatha looked up from her ancient book and asked in a hoarse voice.
Lance remained expressionless, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
"Previously, the President and I went to find Mammon, and the exchange was not pleasant."
"Oh? What does Mammon want?"
Agatha became a little interested.
To be honest, she was incredibly curious about Mammon. This young man… isn't he truly remarkable?
As the son of a Gym Leader, he joined Team Rockets and started from scratch, constantly developing and growing through his own abilities.
Finally, when his wings were full, he eliminated the original leader of Team Rockets and took his place, becoming the head of a large force in this world.
If one ignores Team Rockets' past actions, it's truly inspiring.
"Team Rockets can guarantee they won't commit evil, but they want management authority over the underground world, and the Pokémon League must not interfere."
Jenny Lio replied concisely.
"Heh heh heh~ He wants to divide the world into two, black and white, with our League. What an ambitious young man."
Agatha's lips curled up, her aged face smiling chillingly.
"But with such a big appetite, isn't this a bit too hasty?"
"It's not surprising, that guy is indeed very arrogant."
Lorelei snorted coldly. In fact, she didn't have much ill will towards Mammon.
Although Mammon was arrogant, he was indeed practical and would restrain Team Rockets members from stealing other people's Pokémon, harming Pokémon, and a series of other evil deeds.
Just for this point, Lorelei's ill will towards the new Team Rockets was not as deep.
Ultimately, the reason she utterly loathed the old Team Rockets was because back then, Team Rockets didn't treat Pokémon as living beings, but merely as tools and experimental subjects.
But Mammon respected Pokémon.
"Team Rockets wants to rule the underground world and not be subject to the League's jurisdiction, allowing Team Rockets to completely break free from the League's constraints. This is absolutely unacceptable."
Jenny Lio said sternly.
"We cannot guarantee whether Team Rockets will always maintain its current stability, and being unrestrained also means being out of control."
"What if Team Rockets develops greater ambitions in the future?"
Hearing what Jenny Lio said, the people present fell into deep thought.
For over a hundred years, the Pokémon League had gradually become the sole overlord of this world, and under the League's management, although there were still inevitably Evil Organizations and Hunter Organizations, they were ultimately a minority, and this world remained harmonious and stable.
Now, Team Rockets was rising, wanting to be on equal footing with the League and take over the management of the underground world.
This naturally caused concern.
However, what Charles Goodshow and Jenny Lio were worried about was not the League's power diminishing, but rather the unstable hidden danger that Team Rockets represented.
Ultimately, a unified order was the best way to achieve harmony and stability.
Once there was an uncontrollable entity, this stability would be fragile.
Especially since Team Rockets also wanted to manage the underground world themselves and demanded that the Pokémon League not interfere, this was even more worrying.
"So, what does the President think?"
Agatha chuckled softly, looking at Charles Goodshow.
"I cannot agree to Mammon's demands. Regardless, giving Team Rockets too broad authority is absolutely not a good thing."
Charles Goodshow shook his head.
"The President is finally being firm for once." Agatha joked with a chuckle.
Charles Goodshow chuckled, knowing that Agatha was subtly criticizing some of his past actions.
However, they were old partners, so a few teasing remarks were naturally no big deal.
"I also agree with this view. Although Team Rockets is now led by Mammon and has transformed from an Evil Organization into a disciplined and structured organization, letting Team Rockets manage the underground world poses a great hidden danger."
Agatha pondered, leaning on her cane.
"To put it bluntly, once this precedent is set, the League's authority will inevitably decline, which will absolutely not have a positive effect on long-term stability."
"And we have no way to curb Team Rockets."
"Can this matter not be negotiated?"
Agatha asked Charles Goodshow and Jenny Lio.
"Mammon's attitude is very strong." Jenny Lio shook her head.
"Then it's a bit difficult. If we go to war with Team Rockets, the losses will probably be immeasurable." Agatha thought.
"Team Rockets' confidence comes solely from Mammon himself. If there's a way to defeat Mammon, we'll have the initiative in negotiations." Lorelei said calmly.
Yes, ultimately, Team Rockets is so unyieldingly strong right now because Mammon believes Team Rockets is stronger than the League, right?
If the League could defeat Team Rockets, Mammon wouldn't be so arrogant.
Mammon certainly wouldn't want a mutually destructive fight with the League; there's no benefit in that.
After all, Mammon's Team Rockets doesn't want to rule the world.
"Team Rockets' strength now lies not only in Mammon himself, but Mammon is indeed the most important factor."
Charles Goodshow sighed, never expecting that they would be so troubled by a single Team Rockets.
"It still comes down to Legendary Pokémon. If Lance could also possess a Legendary Pokémon, then we wouldn't have to be so wary of Team Rockets."
Jenny Lio was very helpless.
Lance remained silent, only his sword-like brows slightly furrowed.
Although he had a cold and arrogant temperament and believed his Dragon Corps was unmatched, Mammon's battle record was indeed terrifying.
"We do have them, Legendary Pokémon, we can have them too."
Agatha, at this moment, was grinning ominously.
"??!"
Upon hearing this, everyone else in the conference room was startled.
"I found a method to obtain a Legendary Pokémon in this ancient book. I think we can try it and let Lance master that Legendary Pokémon."
Agatha said slowly.
"Well done, Agatha!" Charles Goodshow was overjoyed.
"Is this information accurate?" Lorelei was somewhat skeptical.
"It should be correct, but we still need to prepare other items: the eight special badges from the first generation." Agatha confirmed.
"Alright! I'll inform Gym Leader Sakaki and the others to send the first-generation badges over."
Charles Goodshow trusted Agatha greatly.
"If Lance has a Legendary Pokémon, plus Gym Leader Sakaki's Primal Groudon, and then we dispatch forces from other regions,"
"We can fight Team Rockets!"
Jenny Lio mentally calculated the odds of winning a war. Although Team Rockets was incredibly powerful, the League also had a chance.
This was not a fight to the death, but a battle for 'power.'
If the League could suppress Team Rockets in this battle, then they would have the confidence to reject Team Rockets' demands.
Otherwise, they would have to accept Team Rockets' potentially even more outrageous demands.
"If we can negotiate, that would be best…" Charles Goodshow hesitated.
"President, there's no room for negotiation on this matter. We must display our military might to Team Rockets, otherwise, Team Rockets will only become more and more unyielding."
Jenny Lio, however, seriously reminded him.
As things stand, eliminating Team Rockets is virtually impossible.
But the League must maintain its right to speak and its authority in front of Team Rockets. Otherwise, today Team Rockets wants dominion over the underground world, and tomorrow Team Rockets might demand the Pokémon League be renamed the Team Rockets League. What then?
Strength is the ultimate truth!
Only if the Pokémon League can thwart Team Rockets' current momentum can it suppress Team Rockets.
"Alright." Charles Goodshow sighed inwardly. In truth, if possible, he still hoped for a peaceful resolution.
However, in this situation, Mammon certainly wouldn't back down, and neither would the League, so the only option was a full-blown confrontation.
The victor would get what they wanted!
...
Near the World Beginning Tree.
"Wow~ The Pokémon here feel so strong."
The boy wearing a baseball cap gazed in astonishment at the Kangaskhan fiercely battling his Dragonite.
Although his Dragonite had only just evolved and he hadn't had it for long, its strength was still excellent.
And the Kangaskhan on the other side was a wild one.
"Indeed, the wild Pokémon here are generally very high-leveled. I never noticed this place before."
Brock also sighed with emotion.
After defeating the wild Kangaskhan, Ash and his two companions continued forward. The environment here was excellent.
And fruit trees were everywhere; it was clear that resources were very abundant.
"So sweet~"
"Pika Chu!"
Ash picked a large apple, wiped it, took a bite, and his eyes immediately lit up.
Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, was also happily munching on an apple.
Just then, a fierce battle sound, seemingly accompanied by voices, came from not far away.
"Huh? Is someone up ahead?"
Ash and his two companions were startled and immediately rushed forward.
Arriving at an open space, Ash immediately saw two figures.
One was a chestnut-haired girl in a black dress, and the other was a red-haired boy.
The red-haired boy was currently battling, commanding an Ursaring, and its opponent was…
"The legendary… Regirock?!"
Brock stared in shock at the Pokémon made entirely of rock.
Wasn't that one of the Legendary Giants?
"Oh? Someone actually snuck in here, huh? Hey? Red? No, you're not Red."
The girl in the black dress turned her head, her bright, large eyes scanning the trio with a charming smile, but she tilted her head in confusion when she saw Ash.
Because the two looked so similar.
"Do you know my brother?"
Ash's eyes lit up.
"Oh my, oh my~ So you're Red's younger brother, huh? I'm Leaf, Red's friend."
Green flashed a brilliant smile and waved at the trio.
"And that's Silver, my younger brother, but he's currently in a capture battle." Green pointed to Silver.
"Oh, oh."
Ash blinked, watching the red-haired boy commanding Ursaring to overpower Regirock.
This Ursaring is so strong!
And why did he keep feeling that this person named Silver looked a bit familiar around the edges?
Ash scratched his head in confusion. Moreover, this person seemed to have a cold demeanor, as if he wasn't easy to get along with.
"By the way, how did you guys get in here?" Green asked curiously.
"Huh? Isn't this a place you can just walk into?" Ash was very puzzled by the question.
"Eh~ You didn't encounter any security?" Green was even more confused.
"No, we didn't."
"…"